Sack filler



R. L. CALLAHAN "oct, 2,' 192s.-

SACK FILLER original Filed spt. 18. l192e: 7 sheets-sheet 1 VN n.

Oct. 2, 1928. 1,686,404

R. L.. CALLAHAN SACK FILLER Original Filed Sept. 18, 1926 7 Sheets-Sheet2 R. L. rCLLAHN SACK FILLER original Filed sept. 18, 192s sheets-sheet:s

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oct. 2,1928.

'R,L.CALLAHAN SACK FILLER` Griginal Filed Sept. 18, 1926 7 Sheets-Sheet4 Oct. 2, 1928. f 1,686,404

R. L.. CALLAHAN SACK FILLER Original Filed Sept. 18, 1926 '7Sheets-Sheet 5 Mvc/mbo@ E. L. 'allahan/ R. L. CALLAHAN SACK FILLERoriginal Fjiled Sept. 18, 1926 Oct. 2, 1928.

Oct. 2, 1928.

R. L. CALLAHAN SACK FILLER Original Filed Sept. 18, 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet'7 wlw Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

RBERT LEE CALLHAN, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SACK FILLER.

Application illed September 18, 1926, Serial No. 136,295. Renewed April11, 1928.

The resentinvention relates to improvements in sack fillers and has foran object to provide an improved device for holding a sack while it isbeing filled with such commoditiesas grain, cereals, rice, sugar,coffee, etc., and at the same time providing for the jolting, twisting,closing and sewing of the sacks. l

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which admitsthe speedy handling of great numbers of sacks in order to increase thepresent possible out-put and to achieve this with a less number ofoperators at decreased labor cost.

A further object of the invention resides in providing an improvedclamping device for the mouth of the bag whichwill facilitate .theplacing, removal and holding of the ba still further obj eet of theinvention resides in the provision of an improved.

supporting plat-form for the bottom of the bag, with mechanism tosubject this blatform to both an undulating and an oscillating movement,whereby to secure a jolting and a twisting action in the-bag to pack thecontents tightly therein and to thereby permit freedom at the edges ofthe bag for the subsequent sewing operation.A

gVVith the foregoing andot-herobjects in view, the invention will bemore fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointedout in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like. symbols refer to like or correspondingparts throughout the several Views,

Figure lis a diagrammatic view showing an apparatus according to thepresent 1n- `vention.

Figure Q, is a front elevation, with parts shown inpsection. of one ofthe carriages with a bag mounted in place thereon.

Figure 3 a side elevation, with parts shown in section of the carriagewith the lower portion thereof in the lowered position.

Figurel is a similar view with a lower portion of the carriage in theraised position and with `the sewing mechanism and bag indicated indotted lines.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the linev 5 5 in Figure Figure6 is a section on the line 6-6 in Figure 3 with the hopper removed.

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 7 7 in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is also a cross section taken on the line 8 8 likewise inFigure 6.

Figure 9 is a section taken on an enlarged scale through one of theclamping devices.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the bag holdingmechanism, and

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the bag holding device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figure 1 showsdiagrammatically a substantially oval track on which are mounted anumber of carriages. Each of these carriages is supplied with a bagholding device, and by means of the carriages the bag is shifted aboutthe track to a number of different stations where the bag is initiallylplaced in the holder, subsequently filled,

jolted, twisted, closed, sewed and finally removed.

One of the carriages is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4; in which figures,12 designates the oval,'circular or other track placed upon theplatform, floor of the factory or other appropriate support and engagedby the wheels 13 of the carriage which includes the frame work made fromtubular metal or other suitable material.

The side or vertical bars of the frame work are indicated at 14, andthese bars may be two in number, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4,coupled together by rails 15 and hung from an upper track, shown inFigures 2 and 3 which preferably comprises the lower and upper rails 1Gand 17 carried by a bracket 18 held upon the roof, ceiling or othersupport. The rails 1G and 17 receive therebetween the wheels 19, whichare journaled upon the upper ends of the posts or standards 14. Theupper portion of the carriage frame is thus supported from the uppertrack which is of like oval, circular or otherfform conforming to thatof the lower track 12. The rails or standards 11i have their lower endsindicated at 2O in Figure 2 extending down telescopically and slidablywithin the lower tubular members 21 of the lower movable portion of theframe work. Rather the tubular members 21 are enabled to slide up anddown upon the lower portions of the carriage standards as required bythe wave-like or undulating portion of the track 1.2, as indicated inFigures Cil 3 and 4. This undulating portion of the track subjects thelower carriage frame to a vertically reciprocating or undulating niotionsuitable for jolti the bag and its contents, the bag bottom beingindicated to` restupon platform 22, which 1s carried by the centralpivot pin 2G, which is provided with I a flange 27 to engage between thewear plates or discs 28 and 29 mounted respectively flush within thelower face of the platform 22 and the upper face of the bed 23. Theupper projecting` portion of the pivot pin 2G above the flange 27 isthreaded to engage threads in the socket 3() projecting upwardly fromthe central part of the wear plate 28, and the flange 27 is wedged`tightly against this wear plate in order to bindV the platform upon thepin. Thetlange 27 also prevents the pin 26 from dropping` through thebushing,- 31, which projects downwardly from the lower wear plate 29 andthrough an opening in the bed 23. The lower end of the pin is providedwith an arm 32, as shown more particularly in Figure 5. This arm isconnected to one end of a linkl, shown in Figures 3 and 5 and the llinkatits other end is pivotally coupled to an upstanding arm 34 upon a rockshaft 35 journaled in brackets below the bed A3. The roc r shaft isaliixed to an arm' 37 having a forked or other end for carrying` aweighted wheel 38 adapted to roll along;` the supporting' surface besidethe track l2, but to avoid 'traveling upon saidA track. In other words,while the vlower carriage portion partakes of the undulai'zing movementderived from the wave-like track portion, they wheel 38 travels besidesuch wave-like track upon a ycontinuously and uniformly horizontal sup-vportingl surface thereby setting up an oscillating movement in the `rockshaft 35, which is con'nnunicated by the connections described tothevertical pivot pin 2G and e is'equently to the. platform 22 whichreceives the bottom of the bag. By this means the bag and its contentsare subjected to a twisting' movement, which serves to insure thesettling of the contents toward the bottom of the bag. .This twistingmovement, aided by the vertical reciprmzatingl movement occasioned bythe undulating track, will cause the contents to be packed `tightly inthe bag;` and to leave a space above the c ntents and heeey-ieridelivery portion 40 of the weighingv machine by which the feed, grain orother material is delivered in measured quantities to the f-:aclsorcontainers. rllie carriages containinet the bags are brought under thisdelivery spout and nnnorialis permitted to descend into a. hopper 4lcarriedlby Vthe upper portion of vthe carriage and having its lower endprojecting` into the mouth of the bag.. The hopper 4l will be movablycarried by the carriage, so as to enable an operator to lift it out ofthe mouth when the bag has been filled. ylhe hopper `4l is for thispurpose carried upon arms 42 having shoes r43 for flanges 44 on thecarriage standards l4.l

The device forl'iolding the upper end of the bau' in place and forholding the mouth open' is supported upon the tubular arms 45, whichextend laterally from the carriage standards i4l and are braced by thediagonal bra t 4G. Upon these arms 45 is secured a rectangular frame 47,clearly shown in Figure 6. rllhe open 'rectangular frame 47 isreinforced by the diagonal braces 48. Two llides 49 and 50 are mountedat opposite nds of the rectangular frame and each such Aride carries apair of clamp jaws for clampnp; the doubled thicknesses at opposite ondportions of the mouth of the bag. The fixed jiaws are lindieatr-id at 5land the movable jaws at 52, such movable jaws being pivoted as indicatedat 53 upon ,the slide plates and urged by coil springs l 4 into tightwedging engagement with the bag); material.l The movable or pivoted jawsare provided with tail pieces having); handles 55 by which the can beswung apart to release the bag.

The slide plates 49 and 50 Vare movable toward and away from each otherto provide for the holding' of bags of various sizes to permit initially'ippingl the bag mouth when .in closed condition, but subsequentlyperniittingi of the opening. ef the bag mouth by the stretching apart ofits sides as later re The slideI plates 49 and 5'() are erred to.provided with a number of sets of Agjrooved rollers 56 for engaging`upon opposite sides of horizontal ,euide rods 57, such guide rods beine'carried in angle clips 58 on the reclar frame and in upwardly extendingl59 upon the opposite ends of the The lit)

` companion jaws 67 and 68.

Ile

f so

over the inner sleeve 7 5.

Carrying the clamp jaws are drawn together, .thecoil spring 63 will bedistended, so that when the slides are released these springs will tendto draw them to the outward position, shown in Figure 6. The springs 63'subserve the further function of drawing" the bag ends outwardly ortaut and serve to hold the bag mouth open.

Vhile the doubled endvportions of the bag mouthare held in the clampjaws of these slides, the opposite side edges of the bag mouth are, asshownin Figure 2, rolled over in opposite directions about the roundedjaws 65 and 66, to which the bag is held affixed, beca-use of thepressure of the These jaws are best shown in Figures 8 and 9 and thecompanion jaws 4at each side constitute side clamps which, with the endclamps above referred to, serve to hold the -mouth roit the -bagdistended. The jaws 65 and '66 are preferably round in cross section topermit fof easily rollingthe ends of the bagthere over, while the outerjaws 67 and 68 are of larger dimensions andv provided with concave orpartially cylindrical sockets 69 in order to envelop a great area oitthe bag about `the rounded jaw and toV encompass a Vrelatively greatareaof such companion aw, whereby greater hold will be secured upon the bag.The jaw 65 'is provided with a tongue 70,` as' shown .in Figures 6 and 8along its centralr portion to fit within a groove 71 provided in aprojecting rib 72 upon the opposite jaw 66. This tongue and socketarrangement is to initially clamp the bag-below the edges, while suchVedges are being rolled about the jaws 65 and 66.

During this rolling process, the larger jaws 67 and V68 are drawn awayfrom the jaws 65 and 66 and for this purpose said rounded jaws arefixedly carried upon the supporting rods 7 3, while the outer jaws 67and 68' are freely slidable over these rods 72 This construction isshown in Figure 9 wherein the jaws 67 and 68 are shown as engaged by theVflangesv 74 of sleeves 7 5, which slide freely over the rods 73. A coilspring 76 engages the flange 74.- at one end and a flange 77 atits'other endgwhich flange T7 is upona. second sleeve 7 8 slidablefreely A coil spring 79 is Vwoimdabo'ut the outer sleeve 7 8 amL enigages against the flange 77 at one end and` against a guide plate S0 atits other end. This guide plate is secured to the rectangular frame 47.The outer ends of the rods 73 are reduced and threaded to receive thelocl; nut-s 81 and 82 by which these rods are secured to the crosspieces 83. The cross piecesare shown more particularly in Figure 6 asjoining the two rods 73. The cross pieces 83 serve the further functionof acting as abutments for the rollers or pins 84 on the ends of thecurved hand levers 85, which locking 1 with the companion .trunnions inguponthe handle 85, thezyoke piece 87 and its connecting jaw may bepulled outwardly away from the companion rounded jaw 65. The sides ofthe bag mouth are thus free to'be rolled about the jaws and 66'whereupon the handles S5 are swung back to the positions, shown inFigure 6, whereupon the coil springs will torce the jaws 67 and 68 backupon the rounded jaws 65 and 66 and clamp the bag in place, as shown inFigure 2. lVhen the hand levers 8:3, are thus manipulated, the coilsprings 76 only are compressed in thel actor'` drawing back the largerjaws 67 and 68. These springs 76 again force the Ajaws Atogether whenthe hand levers 85 are released. The coil springs 79, however, areuseful for forcing the one jaw assembly 65, 67 yieldably toward theother jaw assembly 66, 68. It is, of course, necessary that the two jawassemblies be separated as indicated in Figure 6 vwhen the bag is to beinitially put in place and also when the bag is tol be finally removedafter filling. To this end the inner rounded jaws 65 and 66, as shown inFigure 6, are extended V yshown in F iger-e 6, joins both of the pinionsfor simultaneous operation. i

ln Figure 6 is also shown a handle96 for manually operatingr this shaft95. `The two pinions referred to are mounetd in housings 97 at Aoppositecorner portions of the rectangular frame 47 and `these housings alsoprovide suitable guide ways for the sliding of the rack bars 92 and 93.

As shown in Figure ll a latch 98 in the form of an arm pivoted to one ofthe trun- Qnions '90 is provided, having (notches 99 and 100 in itslower edge for engaging .and inter- A handle'lOi -is provided upon `thefree end of the latch for lifting the engaged notch out of the trunniousto permit the separation of'v the jaws'or the bringing of the sametogether.

As shown in Figure l in dotted lines a sewing mechanism is indicated asoperating upon the bag while still in the holder.

In operation, theside jaw assemblies are separated as indicated inFigure 6 and the end jaw slides are in the outermost position also shownin` this figure. This condition isl brought about by operating thehandle 9G to rotatethe pinions 94 and through the rack bars 92 and 93separate such jaws. The latch 9S in Figure 1l will automatically drop inplace and hold the jaw assemblies thus separated without furtherattention oii the part of the operator. i

This is desirable while securing the ends of the bag mouth in the endawscarried by the slides 49 and 50. rl`he bag is therefore let downbetween the two jaw assemblies or inserted upwardly therebetween, thetwo walls of the bag near one end of the mouth are inserted between thejaws 5l and 52 at one end of the rectangularframe 4:7, the movable jaw52 being swung back to admit the bag edge. Then released the movable jaw52 due to the spring pressure exterted thereon will automatically holdthe bag end. This operation is repeated at the other end by engaging thewalls of the bag mouth in the two jaws of the opposite slide 50.

The side. ortions of the bao' mouth are now to be secured in the sidejaw assemblies and to this end the jaw assemblies are initially movedtogether, by the lever 96, so

that the parts are brought into the condition shown in Figure 8. Herethe tongue 70 and groove 7l construction will bind upon the bag, theintermediate portion of the bag mouth being lifted up before thisclamping action takes place, so as tol leave adequate material forrolling about the jaws (35 and 66which operation is then performed, onlyof course after the largerjaws 67 and 68 are withdrawn by manipulationofthe hand levers 85. These hand levers are subsequently released to en(ble the springs 76 to again force the jaws together upon the overturnededges of the bag mouths, as shown in Figure 2.

It now becomes necessary to spread the mouth of the bag in order` toreceive the material and for this purpose the lever 96 is again resortedto, by which the pinioiis 94. ai'e rotated and the side jaw assembledseparated a sufficient distance. ,The latch 98 in Figure 1l will holdthe parts in this distended position against the action of the coilsprings 79 which restore the partsvto the closed position immediatelyafter'lifting the said latch.

In the diagrammatic Figure l a possible installation of a number ofcarriages is slrown.- These Vcarriages .may be moved about the ovaltrack indicated by hand or by appropriate mechanical power. .The variousstations through which these carriages pass are indicated on thedrawings. but it will `be understood that the operations may beperformed at any desired stations.

It is obvious that various changes and modificationsmay be made in thedetails of construction and design of the above speciiiof, such changesand modifications being restricted only by the scope of the followingclaims. i

l/Vhat is claimed is z y Y l. A sack filer comprising a movable cariage,means thereon to support the mouth of the saclnaiid a vibrating platformon the carriage on which' the bottom of the sack continually rests. v d

2. A sack filler comprising a movable carriago, means thereon forholding the open end of the sack, and a platform movable on the carrhgefoi'A continually supporting the bottoni of the sack only and movablerelatively toward and from the mouth of the sack to jolt the contents ofthe sack, andA means for so moving said platform.

3. A sack iiller comprising a movable carriage having a vibratable lowerportion,

means for subjecting said `lower portion. when the carriage is moving tovibration,

, portion of the cairiage.V

a. A sack iiller comprising ,a movable carriage, means on the carriagefoi' holding the mouth of. the sack, and an oscillating platform on the'carriage for receiving the bottoni of the sack and for twisting thesaine about the axis of thesack.

A sack iillei' comprising a wheeled carriage having a vibiatable lowerportion, a track for the wheeled Vcarriage having an undulating portion,and means on the carriage for holdingthe mouth of theA sack with thelower portion of the sack continually supported by the lower vibratingportion' of the carriage. l 1

6. A sack iiller comprising a movable wheeled carriage having avibratable lower portion, a track havingan undulating por-V 7. A. sack`iiller track raving an undulating port-ion, a Vcarriage having lowervibratable portion with wheels fitted to travely on said track, anoacilla'i'ng j'ilatforni on the lower vibratable comprising an je'ndlessportion of the carriage, said platform adapted to oscillate in a planeatsubstantially right angles to `the plane of vibration of the lowercarriage portion, means for subjecting the platform to vibration whilethe carriage travels over the undulating portion of tl .e track, andmeans on the carriage for holding the .mouth ofthe sack with the bottomthereof vresting upon said platform.

8. A sack filler comprising upper and ing an undultaing portion therein,a carriage having an upper fix-cd port-ion with wheelsfor traveling uponsaid upper track, and

having a lower vertically vibratable portion with wheels adaptedtotravel upon the lower track, a horizontally oszci latable j ilatitorm onthe lower portion of said carriage, means for oscillating said platformduring the interval that the carriage is passing over the undulatingpart of the track, and means on the upper'portion oi the carriage forsuspending a sack from the mouth with the bottom portion thereof restingon said platform. 9. A sackcliller comprising a track liavinganundulating portion, a carriage having wheels for engaging the track, `aplatform ior receiving a bag on the carriage mounted for oscillatingYmovement, and means for engaging the supporting surface adjacent saidtrack for causing oscillation ofthe platform when the carriage travcling the undulating portion of the track.

lO. A sack filler comprising a wheeledL carriage, a track having anundulating portion for receiving the wheeled carriage, an

oscillating platform on the carriage i'or re-l ceiving the sack, a pivotpin ior the oscillating'platform, a rock shaft journaled on the carriagebeneath the platform, cornicetions between said rock shaft and pivot pinfor rocking the same simultaneously, and a wheeled lever coupled to saidrock sha'lt and engaging the horizontal supporting surface alongsidesaid tracl': Ytor subjecting the plat form to an oscillating movementwhen the carriage is passing over said undulating portion oi the track.

11. A sack filler comprising movable clamps for holding the end portionsot the mouth oit a sack, means yieldably drawing said clamps apart,and'movable side clamps for receiving the side portions of the saclcmonth and adapted to draw said mouth. apart and to draw the end clampstogether whereby to hold the mouth oi2 the sack d tended. f

l2. A sack filler comprising end clamps to hold the end portions oi themouth oi the sack, side clamps t'or receivingr and holding the sideportions oi the sack moutl said Side clamps having means for initiallyholding the sack while the side mouth portions thereof are being engagedwith the side clamps, and means for moving said side clamps toward andfrom one another.

13. A sack filler comprising end clamps for holding the end portions ofthe sack mouth, means tor yieldably drawing said end clamps apart`movable side clamps -tor receiving and holding the side portions of thesack mouth, one of said, clamps having a tongue and the other oli' saidclamps having a groove to receive said tongue whereby to hold the sackwhile the side portions thereof are being engaged with the clamps, andmeans :tor moving said side clamps toward and away from each other.

fr. A sack iller comprising means for f ig the end portions of the.mouth oi' the side clamps for holding the side porot the sack mouth,each of said side nps comprising a pair of jaws, one of h jaws being oi'substantiall round cross section to permit the rolling tiere about ofthe end portion of the sack, the other of said jaws having a partiallycylindrfcal socket for receivir'v the companion round jaw, resilientmeans for urging said clamp jaws t0- gether upon the sach, and means formoving the two side clamps toward and away from each other.

1F. A sack liller comprising means for holding the end portions ot themouth oi' the sack, side clamps movably mounted iior receiving the sideportions ot the sack mouth, means for moving said side clamps toward andfrom each other, means for yieldably urging the side clamps together,and a latch n fans ior holding the side clamps apart.

16. A ililler comprising means for holding the end portions of the sackmouth, movable side clamps'ior receiving the side portions ot the sackmouth, each ot said side clamps comprising` cooperating jaws movablerelatively, yicldable means :tor Yiorcing the jaws together, andyieldable means operated with said last named means lor urging the sideclamps together upon the sack mouth.

17. A sacl; filler comprising means for holding the end portions of thesack mouth, a pair ot side clamps for receiving the side portions o' thesack mouth, each of said side clamps comprising cooperating relativelymovable jaws, movably mounted rods t'or holding one ot said jaws, theother oft' said jaws being slidably mounted on said rod, .ldable meanson the rod tor both urging tbe two jaws oil each side clamp togetlierand also tor yieldably urging the clamps as a whole to 'ard one another,and means tor shitting tlie side clamps apart.

gaat

i8. A liao' Eller comin'isinoV means for tu 1 i s; holding the enopoi-tions ot the bag mouth,

said clamps for holding the side portions or he bag mouth, each ot saidside clamps eomprising a pair oilf cooperating for receiving the bagmaterial therebetween, movably mounted rods connected to one of thejaws, the other oit sa'd jaws slidingr on said rods, sleeves looselyextending over said rods and having flanges abutting` against the lastmentioned jaws, second sleeves slidably mounted on the last mentionedsleeves and having flanges thereon, coil springs wound about the iii-stYmentioned sleeves between the two flanges, fixed abutments, coil springwound about said second sleeves between the flanges llo slides forengaging the end portions of theA Y :sack and for maintaining the sameunder tension, and movable means `lor holding the side portions of themouth of the sack.

20. A sack filler comprising a pair of movably` mounted slides adaptedto be shifted toward and from each other, yieldable means Jiormaintaining the slides apart, Clamp jaws for receiving and holding theend portions of the mouth of the sack, inov-r ably mounted side clampsshiiftable in diiecf tions at substantially right angles to thedirection oit movement oi' said slides and tor engaging the sidepoi-tions ot the sack mouth, and means r'or shitting said side clampstowardand 'trom one another.

2l. A sack filler comprising clamp means `for holding the end portionsoi' the mouth oi a sack, side clamps or holding the s de portions ofthesack mouth, rack bars coupled to said side clamps, connected pinions formeshing with said rack bars, "and means for simultaneously shitting saidIpinions .and 'rack bars whereby to open and Close said side clamps. Y

22. A sack filler comprising clamp means for seeming the end portions ofthe mouth o't a sack, movable side clamps for engaging' the sideportions of the sack mouth, opposed rack bars secured to the endportions of said side clamps, eonneetedjpinions meshing with saidop'posedrack bars, means for rotating said pinions, and a latch pivotedto one clamp member and adapted to engage with Athe other clamp vmembersto hold the clamp members either together or apart.

23. A sael: iller comprising oarriaga'a Vtraek for the carriage havingran undulating portion, means 'for holding the mouth of the sach in openposition, a movable mounted hopper on the carriage above the sack, anoscillating platform on the carriage below *aid means `and torreeeivingjT the ybottom of the sack, and means for oscillating saidplatform when the carriage is :passing over the undulating part of thetrack.

`ROBERT LEE GALLAHAN.

